Madrid – my second home in the south

In the summer of 2017, my friend Felix and I packed our seven things into boxes, emptied our apartment in Germany and stuffed everything we thought we needed into our small car. Thanks to the ERASMUS+ exchange program of our university, we had the chance to live in Spain for a year. Who can say no to something like that? We said goodbye to friends and family and a little later we were on our way to faraway places! Our small car was panting under the weight while we were looking forward to a year of summer, sun, wanderlust!

What makes Madrid so special? Well, where should I begin! The city is full of life, great people and unforgettable sights. We lived in the Salamanca district. There, magnificent, old buildings and ostentatious shops adorn the streetscape. There’s always something going on and as soon as you step outside the front door, tons of honking cars whiz around in front of your eyes. Even though the car noise can sometimes be a bit stressful, I have always loved the hustle and bustle. I also liked the fact that I could reach the nearest supermarket in less than three hundred meters on foot. Two streets away from our apartment there was even a shop that was open all night. Being able to shop at any time of the day – even at two o’clock in the morning – is a luxury that I have never been able to enjoy before.

Also just a few streets away from our apartment was the famous El Retiro Park. Madrid is a surprisingly green city, not least because of the numerous parks that characterize the cityscape. The Retiro is almost 1.5 km² in size and offers the city dwellers a lot of nature and relaxation. On a landscaped lake in the middle of the park, there is even the possibility to sail across the water in a rented boat. In addition, one of the most beautiful buildings in the city is located in El Retiro: the Glass Palace! Almost the entire façade is made of glass and so you can also see inside from the outside.

What else is there? A visit to Madrid without a detour to the Plaza Mayor is a serious mistake – at least that’s what I say. The name Plaza Mayor stands for Town Hall Square. Colourful houses were once built around the square and stylish restaurants await pleasure seekers under the shady arcades. The surrounding old town district is just as beautiful and in my opinion the pearl of the city. Especially in the evening hours, there is an ambience that simply takes you along. If you are hungry and looking for a cheerful restaurant, you are guaranteed to find it on one of the smaller squares.